Ironing machine control



Jan. 4, 1949. FE s 2,457,990

momma MACHINE CONTROL Filed Nov. 14, 1942 k 2 she'ets-sh eef 1 IRONING MACHINE CONTROL Filed Nov. l4, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 I a K QIgVENTOR.

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IRONING CONTROL Donald K. Ferris, Dayton, Ohio. alsignor to Gencrai Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application November 14, 1942, Serial No. 465,563

An object of this invention is to provide a construction in an ironing machine or machines of similar character, so that it may be easily moved around over the supporting floor and thereafter locked in position while operating said machine. 7

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a view in perspective, and somewhat diagrammatic, showing a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in cross-section, and with parts broken away, showing a pedal construction;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view, taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the parts in a different position.

An ironer embodying this invention may be provided with a supporting frame III, which carries a mechanism, such as an ironing roller ll, an ironing shoe l2, and mechanism l3 for rotating the roller II and bringing the shoe l2 into contact with the roller II. The mechanism II may be, internally, the same as disclosed in my Patent Number 2,363,518, granted November 28. 1944. The frame l9 may be provided with downwardly directed supports II at its ends, and these supports It may in turn be supported by a plurality of casters l5. Preferably there are four of such casters.

A manipulator or pedal I8 is provided for controlling the operation of the mechanism carried by the frame. The pedal I6 is connected by the rod I! with the mechanism It. The pedal is movably supported on the frame i ll by end levers l8 at each end of the pedal It, these levers being fulcrumed at I9. The levers l8 are covered and are connected by a curved sheet metal cap Ila to form the long pedal l8. Upon downward movement of the pedal IS, the ironing mechanism is caused to operate.

Preferably the pedal I8 is movable to a plurality of positions to provide for diflerent types of operation of the mechanism. For example, downward movement to a first position of the pedal It causes the roll H to rotate at one speed, and the shoe |2 to move into engagement with the roll At a second position of the pedal It, the roll may be caused to rotate at a diiferent speed.

At a third position the pedal It the shoe i2 may be brought into engagement with the roll II, but the roll may be maintained stationary. At a fourth position of the pedal, the brake means hereinafter to be more fully described may be applied to prevent movement of the ironer over the supporting floor. The features of causing the various operations of the roll II' and shoe l2 form no part of this invention and are more fully described in my copending application 8. N. 367,989, filed November 30, 1940, Patent No. 2,363,518, patented November 28, 1944, wherein they are claimed.

Brake means are provided to station the ironer on the supporting floor at a selected place. Preferably this brake means is of a construction such that upon movement of the pedal It to its lowermost position, such brake means is applied, while movement of a second pedal 2|! automatically releases the brake means and again permits movement of the ironer about the supporting floor on the casters It. This brake means may take the form of a member or red 2| which is movable downwardly into engagement with the supporting floor. The rod 2| may be provided with a rubber knob 22 at the end, to come into frictional engagement with the floor. Ii desired, a plurality of such rods 2| may be provided, such as one near each end of the pedal It.

The rods 2| may pass through openings 23 and 24 in channel-irons 25a and 25, which extend between the two end supports l4, underneath the pedal IS. The rod 2| is ordinarily urged upwardly by the spring 28, which reacts on the top of member 25 and on the washer 21 at the end of the rod 2|. when the pedal I8 is moved downwardly, it comes into contact with the top of the rod 2|, in its lowermost position, and moves the rod 2| into engagement with the floor.

A device is provided for automatically locking the rod 2| when it is moved downwardly, and

also for releasing the rod 2| when it is desired to move the ironer about the floor. For this purpose, each rod 2| is controlled by an angularly shaped pedal 20, which extends through a slot 28 in the cap I811. The construction is such that when the rod 2|- is moved downwardly the edges 29 and 30 of an opening in the pedal bite into the rod 2| and lock it in its lowered position. For this purpose, the lower end 20a of the pedal 20 is inserted in an opening 3| in the member 25. A spring 32 is coiled about the rod 2| and expands against the top of channel member 25a and the bottom of the pedal 20. The reaction of the sp ing 32 causes the pedal 20 to move upwardly in biting position and remain there until a a selected place, the user may push the, pedal It.

quickly downward to its lowermost position. This causes the rods II to move downwardly with their knobs 22 engaging the floor. The rods 2| are locked in their downward position by the biting action the pedals 20. Thereafter the ironer may be used, under the control of pedal it, for any ironing operations desired. When it is desired to move the ironer to some other place on the floor, the user pushes down the pedals 20, at each end oi the pedal l8, and this releases the rods 2!, so that they may fly upward under the power of springs 26, thus disengaging them from the floor, and allowing the ironer to'be moved about the floor.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An ironing machine comprising an elongated standard having downwardly directed supports at each end of said standard, ironing mechanism supported on said standard, a pedal extending between said supports and controlling the starting of the ironing operation of said mechanism by downward movement of said pedal to ironing controlling position, casters on said supports, and brake means for preventing movement of said ironing machine on said casters, and means rendered operative by downward movement of said pedal beyond its ironing controlling positions for applying said brakemeans.

2. An ironing machine comprising an elongated standard having downwardly directed supports at each end of said standard, ironing mechanism supported on said standard, a pedal extending 4 I between said supports and controlling the starting of the ironing operation of said mechanism by downward movement 01' said pedal to ironing controlling position, casters on said supports, brake means for preventing movement oi said ironing machine on said casters, means rendered operative by downward movement of said pedal beyond its ironing controlling position for said ironing mechanism, and release means for said brake means. r

3. An ironing machine. comprising a standard having downwardly directed supports, an ironing roller, an ironing shoe and driving mechanism for rotating said roller and for providing engaging movement between said roller and shoe supported on said standard, casters on said supports, a pedal extending between said supports and controlling the starting oi said mechanism,

brake means for preventing movement of said ironing machine on said casters, means rendered eflective by operation of said pedal for applying said brake means, and release means for said last named means.

, DONALD K. FERRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent? UNITED STATES PATENTS Morella Mar. 23, 19% 

